From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The police in Abia have arrested five persons, among them, two fake Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) officials in Umuahia for robbing students of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), at gunpoint.
It was gathered that four of the arrested suspects had on January 23, while dressed in EFCC uniforms, stormed the Enyioma Christ Lodge, Umudike and dispossessed some students of MOUAU of their phones at gunpoint.
The suspects were also alleged to have forced the students to transfer a total of N120,000 to their (suspects’) account.
According to a release by Maureen Chinaka, PPRO of Abia command, after the incident, men of the Central Police Station (CPS), Umuahia, stormed the area and arrested three men from the Man o War base at MOUAU.
Those arrested included, Onyedikachi Ihechukwumere ‘M’, 25, Onwuka Christopher ‘M’, 26, and Tochukwu Obinna ‘M’, 30.
When their homes were searched, the release stated, three out of the six stolen phones and a tricycle with Registration No. HAF 011VG, Fleet NO 5868, which they were said to have used to facilitate their criminal act, were recovered.
Again, police said on January 24, arrested one James Prince Victor ‘M’, 39, of Ohuhu, Umuahia North LGA, who was said to have claimed to be an EFCC personnel and led the Man O War suspects to the student lodge. He was arrested together with one Chidozie Onwuzuruike ‘M’, 40, of same address.
The command said when their homes were searched, 4 red-coloured jackets with EFCC inscription, 2 EFCC ID Cards, 1 of the stolen phones, 1 toy gun and 4 EFCC search warrants were recovered from them.
Police said investigations into the matter are still in progress.